Archdiocese of Seattle Must Pay $12.1 million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims

The Archdiocese of Seattle will pay $12.1 million to settle 30 sexual abuses claims.

The men in the claims report that they were abused at two archdiocesan schools that were operated by the Christian Brothers religious order.

Christian Brothers no longer operates the schools. Briscoe School, a boarding and day school, closed in the 1960s, while O’Dea High School is still open and run by the archdiocese.

Men involved in the 30 cases range from 30 years old to 60 years old.

"I deeply regret the pain suffered by these victims," Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said in a statement on Tuesday.

The $12.1 million settlement will be paid by insurance from the archdiocese.

Michael Pfau, the plaintiffs' lawyber said the archdiocese "did the right thing and acknowledged the tremendous amount of pain and suffering that our clients, their families and our community have endured.

"This settlement is the first step in allowing all parties to focus on the future," Pfau said.

About half the cases claim the abuse came at Briscoe. The men will also receive settlement money from the Christian Brothers bankruptcy.

The Christian Brothers filed for federal bankruptcy in 2011 after an onslaught of abuse claims.